WhatsApp

Federal Jury Slaps NSO Group with $168 Million Verdict for Hacking WhatsApp Users Amid Ongoing Controversy Over Spyware Ethics

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OAKLAND, Calif. — A federal jury awarded $168 million to Meta Platforms Inc. on Tuesday after finding that the Israeli tech firm NSO Group unlawfully accessed the messaging service WhatsApp to hack the accounts of 1,400 users in 2019. In a statement following the verdict, NSO Group expressed its intention to appeal the decision, maintaining its defense of the Pegasus spyware, which it claims plays a vital role in combating crime and terrorism when used by authorized government agencies. NSO’s Vice President for Global Communications, Gil Kanier, emphasized that the jury’s ruling represents merely another … Read more

NSO Group Hit with $167 Million Penalty in WhatsApp Hacking Case

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AUSTIN, Texas — The Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group has been ordered to pay $167 million after being found liable for its role in hacking into the messaging platform WhatsApp. This ruling represents a significant legal setback for the company, which has faced numerous allegations regarding the misuse of its spyware technology. The court’s decision stems from a high-profile case initiated by WhatsApp in 2019, claiming that NSO Group facilitated cyberattacks on thousands of users. The company allegedly exploited a vulnerability in the app, enabling it to implant malicious software on devices belonging to targeted … Read more

WhatsApp Battles Against NSO’s Persistent Spyware Intrusions Despite Lawsuit

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Tel Aviv, Israel – Recently unsealed court documents have exposed significant details about the operations of Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group and its controversial tool, Pegasus. These revelations came to light during the intensifying legal battle between Meta’s WhatsApp and NSO Group, providing an in-depth look at the ethical and security complexities surrounding the use of spyware. The case against NSO Group escalated after it emerged that the company had leveraged multiple vulnerabilities in WhatsApp to deploy its Pegasus spyware, a practice that persisted even after WhatsApp initiated a lawsuit in October 2019. Notably, one … Read more